2026 World Cup - players.bio

Neymar included in Brazil’s World Cup squad after injury struggles

RIO DE JANEIRO: Neymar has been named in Brazil’s squad for next month’s World Cup, manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday, handing the forward a chance to return to international soccer’s biggest stage after an injury-disrupted cycle. The 34-year-old, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, comes back following a prolonged absence due to a series of injuries that kept him out for much of the qualifying campaign, ‌as the ‌five-time champions pursue a record-extending sixth ‌title. As ⁠dozens of journalists ⁠gathered at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Tomorrow for a ceremony featuring music acts and celebrity guests, all eyes were on Ancelotti’s decision on whether to include Neymar in the squad. The 66-year-old Italian, who took over Brazil last year, had not ⁠previously called the former Barcelona and ‌Paris St. Germain player.

Iran confirms squad heading to Turkiye for World Cup preparation

TEHRAN: Iran’s World Cup squad will travel to Turkiye on Monday for a training camp, friendlies and to complete visa applications before heading to the United States, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Saturday. Team Melli will be returning to Antalya where they trained and played friendlies in March. They are taking a squad of 30 players, which will have to be trimmed to the World Cup maximum of 26. Perhaps the best known is 33-year-old former Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, now with Olympiacos. “Selecting 30 players for this final training camp ahead of the World Cup was the most difficult technical decision of my coaching career,” Ghalenoei told the Iranian football federation website, adding that he had selected players solely on “technical criteria.” Iran hope to play two friendlies in Antalya.

Bayern’s Neuer keeps mum on potential Germany return for World Cup

MUNICH: Bayern ‌Munich keeper Manuel Neuer refused to comment on Saturday on the reports that he could be a surprise addition to Germany’s World Cup squad, but did not rule out a possible international comeback. The 2014 World Cup winner, who retired from the national team after Euro 2024, enjoyed a solid season with champions Bayern. He signed ‌a contract ‌extension with Bayern on Friday ‌and ⁠the absence of ⁠a clear successor for Germany has seen his name come up once more.

US team ‘devastated’ by lack of home support, says World Cup doc maker

LOS ANGELES: For most national soccer teams, playing a tournament on home turf is a huge advantage. For the United States, it can be the opposite. In the Gold Cup final last year, the US lost in a Houston stadium overwhelmingly packed with rival Mexico fans.

The last dance: Messi and Ronaldo get ready for sixth and final World Cup

PARIS: Lionel Messi’s career seemed complete after he led Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup, but the motivation to keep playing is still there for him and his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the duo prepare to make history at this year’s tournament in North America. This will be the last dance for Messi and Ronaldo, who will become the first players to appear in six different World Cups, two decades on from their fresh-faced debuts at the finals. They have since become icons far beyond the football pitch, two of the most recognizable people on the planet as they head into middle age and contemplate retirement. Messi appeared to suggest that there would not be much point in carrying on after he skippered Argentina to victory in Qatar. “Obviously I wanted to finish my career with this. I can’t ask for any more,” he said after dragging Lionel Scaloni’s side to victory over France on penalties in that World Cup final in Doha. “My career is coming to an end because these are my final years.

Injury-hit Romelu Lukaku included in Belgium’s World Cup squad for the fourth time

BRUSSELS: Romelu Lukaku’s efforts to recover from injuries seem to have paid off after the Napoli striker was included in Belgium’s World Cup squad Friday. Lukaku, midfield great Kevin de Bruyne and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois are set to play their fourth World Cup campaigns. Lukaku has 124 games for Belgium, de Bruyne 117 and Courtois 107, making them some of the most experienced players on any team at the World Cup. They all trail 37-year-old defensive midfielder Axel Witsel, also heading into a fourth tournament.

Mbappe, Dembele head up France squad for 2026 World Cup

PARIS: Kylian Mbappe will spearhead France at the World Cup after coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday announced his 26-man squad for this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Deschamps, who guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and will leave his role after the 2026 edition, included few surprises. “It’s a squad. Not necessarily the 26 best players. It’s about balance and how the team comes together,” Deschamps told French TV channel TF1. “The overriding and essential criterion (for selection) is a sporting one,” the 57-year-old later explained to journalists. Mbappe will likely captain the team from the get-go despite a thigh injury sustained last month, which caused him to miss key matches in Real Madrid’s La Liga run-in. The 27-year-old will be joined on the plane to North America by an array of attacking talent such as Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Bayern Munich winger Michael Olize. Rayan Cherki will make his World Cup debut. The 22-year-old playmaker has enjoyed a sparkling debut season at Manchester City, while his Premier League rival William Saliba of Arsenal will provide defensive solidity for Les Bleus. Dayot Upamecano of Bundesliga champions Bayern will be expected to partner Saliba in the heart of the France defense, with Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate and Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix also included.

US relaxes visa bonds for World Cup fans

WASHINGTON: The United States said Wednesday it would ease its system of demanding bond payments of visa applicants for certain fans seeking to come for the World Cup. Under one of President Donald Trump’s many initiatives to crack down on migration, the United States has begun asking people from 50 developing countries to hand over anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for a US visa, refundable once they return home. The State Department said it would waive the bonds for team members competing in World Cup matches in the United States as well as for fans from competing countries who already have tickets and signed up for a priority system set up for visas. “We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” said Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs. She said the Trump administration wanted to organize the “biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history.” “Today’s announcement from the US State Department further demonstrates our ongoing collaboration with the US Government and the White House Task Force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event,” a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement. Five countries that qualified for the World Cup are among those whose nationals are required to pay visa bonds: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia. At least two other countries that have qualified for the soccer showcase have seen nearly total bans on entry into the United States under Trump: Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and Iran, which the United States and Israel attacked on February 28. The Trump administration has also

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2026 World Cup Sport News

Neymar included in Brazil’s World Cup squad after injury struggles

Iran confirms squad heading to Turkiye for World Cup preparation

Bayern’s Neuer keeps mum on potential Germany return for World Cup

US team ‘devastated’ by lack of home support, says World Cup doc maker

The last dance: Messi and Ronaldo get ready for sixth and final World Cup

Injury-hit Romelu Lukaku included in Belgium’s World Cup squad for the fourth time

Mbappe, Dembele head up France squad for 2026 World Cup

US relaxes visa bonds for World Cup fans